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Letters to Cyclingnews - March 24, 2005

Here's your chance to get more involved with Cyclingnews. Comments and
criticism on current stories, races, coverage and anything cycling related
are welcomed, even pictures if you wish. Letters should be brief (less
than 300 words), with the sender clearly identified. They may be edited
for space and clarity; please stick to one topic per letter. We will normally
include your name and place of residence, but not your email address unless
you specify in the message.

Each week's best letter gets our 'letter of the week' award. We look
for for letters that contain strong, well-presented opinions; humour;
useful information or unusual levels of sheer helpfulness.

Letter of the week

What’s worth talking about in cycling?

Good grief, people! How many times have I read in this letters
column about what a drag it is that the cycling media focuses so
much on the minutiae of Lance Armstrong's life, or how most North
American cycling fans are such complete cretins because they don't
care about anyone but Lance? And then what do we do but reinforce
the stereotype by flogging the tiniest Lance-related dead horses
we can find to death in the cyclingnews.com letters column! Seriously,
did the first letter on how Lance showed up to Paris-Nice fat, got
sick, and dropped out, really require 15 cookie-cutter follow-ons?
Is there nothing else worth talking about in the whole wide world
of pro cycling? In case you've not noticed, this lovely website
brings you news of races from around the world, even those that
LA, or any other American, doesn't compete in.

In the spirit of trying to contribute something positive, now that
I've got that rant off my chest, here are a few recent developments
that I think are at least as worthy of a good chewing over as is
Lance's rock'n'roll lifestyle:

1. Anyone noticed that Oscar Friere has finally figured out how
to win more than one bike race in a year? Or that he's going head-to-head
with Petacchi with better success than anyone has in the last three
years? He's already won more races this year than in the last three
combined, and could conceivably become the first ever to win the
road World's four times. Imagine that - a record that would certainly
have staying power comparable to so-and-so's six Tours.

2. On the flip side, Petacchi has already won more races this year
than some lame-ass French teams won in all of 2004. AND he's lost
weight without losing speed! Is anyone besides him and Oscar going
to have a chance in non-cobbly one day races this year? Not looking
likely right now.

3. Under the old UCI points system, those two guys would be well
on their way to turning the year's best (highest-ranked) rider into
a two-man race. With the ProTour format, though, their stage wins
count for almost nothing, even at Tirreno-Adriatico, where there
was as tough a field as many Classics boast. Do you think that's
reasonable? I sure don't.

4. Erik Dekker looks finally to be back, after two years of struggle
with silly injuries that wouldn't heal. Warms my heart - he's a
great guy and a canny racer, and every race he's in, on form, will
be more fun to follow with him. What great news!
5. While we're on the subject of Dekkers, his 20-year-old teammate
Thomas finished Paris-Nice only 5 minutes down on Bobby J, but more
significantly managed to finish in a very select lead group of 20
on the last stage. He hung in that group all day, while Valverde
tried everything he could to get away from motor-pace animal Jens
Voigt and the CSC machine. He's 20 years old. And 22-year-old Thomas
Lovqvist went even better than him on GC! I can't remember the last
time there were so many shockingly strong youngsters coming into
the pro ranks at once. Be scared, Damiano, be very scared...

6. All of last year's hand-wringing about the ProTour being the
death of smaller races because the stars wouldn't ride them doesn't
seem to have materialized yet. No one seems to have cottoned on
to the fact that the even-larger PT teams would need even more venues
than before to get racing days in their riders' legs (there are
only 27 PT events, after all). Heck, even Lance Armstrong (oops,
mentioned him) is going to ride a cheesy little race like Paris-Camembert!
(Sorry, couldn't help myself). Happy letter writing,

Blood testing issues

Let me begin by noting that I am not a doctor.

That said, the question at hand seems to be very simple: how often does this
blood doping test yield false positives. This can't be very difficult to determine
since it simply requires that you test people who either/both haven't had a
recent transfusion or who have never had a transfusion. If it was shown that
the test doesn't yield false positives or does so very very rarely, fine; whoever
has tested positive should get the penalties that they deserve.

What mystifies me is that the forces involved haven't released this information,
since doing so would not compromise the test in any way. This leads me to believe
either that the false positive testing doesn't exist or that the test does in
fact yield false positives. If anyone knows more about studies of false positives
using this test I would be very interested to learn of it.

Blood testing issues #2

Ok, I take Trevor Thorpe’s points. But I still find it hard to believe that
Hamilton and Perez, along with their medical expertise, should have been so
stupid/careless…(even I had heard the rumours about some new blood testing methods
at the Olympics, and I only followed the issue briefly from my armchair)

I’m not desperately trying to defend Hamilton and Perez. And I also believe
that the vast majority of athletes getting caught in doping controls actually
are guilty (And they deserve even harsher penalties than they get today!) But
on the other hand, I believe there are so many unanswered questions in this
particular matter that I think it merits some sort of debate, or at least that
all relevant information in the case is brought up.

More light should to be thrown on the new testing method. I am therefore, once
again, grateful to John Winnie Jr for providing the interesting points about
blood testing methods in his March 11 letter. If this is how it actually works
in practice, it sounds a bit frightening and unfair to me. But perhaps the occurrence
of the odd false positive is the price one has to pay to get rid of (or at least
reduce) doping? In any case, the athletes should be informed about this beforehand,
so they can decide for themselves if they are willing run the risk of being
caught when not guilty. The doping authorities should come up with a clear statement
based on scientific evidence on this issue: i.e. - is there a probability of
producing a false positive, and if so, are all athletes tested with an equal
probability of producing a false positive?

Blood testing issues #3

In response to the wide variety of explanations, excuses, and accusations recently
put forth about the Perez/Hamilton/Phonak doping 'issue', I'd like to put forth
a simple plausible theory that doesn't take a hematologist to understand. It
goes like this…Hamilton and Perez were both blood doping with their own blood,
using the same doctor/lab/trainer/coach for assistance. Somehow the blood got
mismarked/mishandled, and mistakenly given to the other for use.

Each had the blood infused thinking it was their own, when in fact it was the
others. Certainly does explain the near simultaneous positives of these two
riders. Of course, for this theory to work, they'd have to have the same type
of blood (or they might get sick in the middle of a race and not be able to
continue), info not made available to the general public. Also, we'd all have
to accept the fact that pro athletes, Tyler Hamilton included, will go to extreme
ends to meet everyone's (and their own) expectations of being the best/fastest/strongest...maybe
sometimes training just isn't enough. Acceptance of doping problems in pro cycling
doesn't equal approval, it equals understanding - and that's where the solutions
to the problem will come from.

Chris Davidson!

To Chris Davidson...I am just writing to let you know that I enjoy reading
your Wrenchin' column every time it appears. It is fascinating to see racing
from within the pits and, as a mechanic myself, I relish the tech tit-bits you
throw out. I know that many of the bike mechanics here in Wellington, New Zealand
also read the column, as info about this sport we love from the perspective
of those who fix the bikes is rare indeed. Thanks for taking time from what
must be a hectic schedule to keep us informed and entertained. Thanks also to
cyclingnews.com for pushing the tech side of cycling so very well. Cheers!

The beauty of bicycle racing

I cannot help but express my recent feelings towards being a spectator of the
sport of cycling and mountain bike racing.

Prior to starting competitive cycling just under five years ago I was struck
by the speed, power and sharpness of road racing as well as the technical ability
of mountain bike racers and the originality of the sport. Yet, as time passed
and I became a competitive mountain bike racer and racing cyclist, I wanted
to form part of the action, and being a spectator instead of racing was not
to my liking.

As my knowledge and interest in the sport grew, I have recently realised how
fulfilling, varied, original and competitive bicycle racing really is. It is
far from boring when compared to motorsports (where have the good old Formula
1 days gone?), football, basketball, tennis, running and other popular sports.

If you think about it, bicycle races have the most action and unpredictable
number of events than most other sports because of their rather lengthy duration
and huge number of participants. Predicting a winner in a road, mountain bike,
track or cyclocross races is the hardest to do when compared to most sports.

Cycling has never been any nicer to me. And until late I used to think - 'If
I would no longer remain a competitive mountain biker and racing cyclist I would
disassociate myself from the sport both as a rider and administrator'. Yet,
having accumulated my knowledge and experience over the years, I can simply
say that the sport is awesome, even though I'm not feeling too well physically!

Drama around Lance

With all the Lance-haters it reminds me of the end of Indurain's reign. Same
talk, same insults, same defense. Still, Indurain is now an icon, and Lance
will be forever remembered positively when it's all said and done. Why must
we tear down the greats before we can cherish them? Just enjoy the competition,
and let the best man win. I'm a Lance fan, and a Jan fan, and I'd be happy to
see Cunego smoke them both. I guess I'm just a cycling fan. The beauty is in
the fight, not the winner or loser.

Is Lance getting soft?

I somewhat agree about Lance getting soft, and in fact, thought the same thing
as I read it on the cyclingnews.com coverage of the race that Armstrong had
pulled out. I do believe that Lance is a great cyclist, and he is no doubt one
of the best ever, but as previous letters mention - it would be so much more
exciting to see Lance win a classic or some other races (not pre-Tour warm-ups
like he does every year) aside from the Tour de France.

However, even though I do somewhat agree, I guess most of us probably don't
know all the behind-the-scenes happenings such as the pressure he puts on himself
to try and win the Tour, the huge amount of sponsor and team pressure, his personal
happenings (Ms Crow), and other family obligations with his kids, etc....We
as outsiders only see him showing up in July and stomping the competition in
the greatest cycling race in the world.

So, perhaps we're "judging" him too prematurely or unfairly? Or, maybe he really
is getting soft? By the way - I'm looking forward to seeing him show up again
here in Georgia this April for the Tour de Georgia...and I wonder if he'll turn
soft for this race...since he won it last year.

Lance has lost the Eye of the tiger

All this nervous speculation, theorising and hypothesising about Lance going
soft - it's way too early to predict anything. As we can see, the weather in
Europe has been putrid and various forms of flu, scurvy and disease are knocking
just about everyone on their backs.

However, let's face reality. He isn't going soft, he's getting older, like
everyone else does. And he has probably realized that at 33, it may take a bit
more effort to be where he would be at this time of year. It's not like he's
just getting in shape for the hell of it - he is aiming to win the Tour. But
he's not 25 anymore. And keep in mind; he hasn't just DONE six Tours in a row.
He's WON six in a row.

No matter who you are, that is going to take a bite out of you somewhere down
the road. He may win, he may not - but no matter what, he can't make time stand
still. As for cavorting around with his girlfriend; let the guy have a life
- he's successful, he's rich, he's entitled to go out and have fun. He's won
six! Give the guy a break.

Lance has lost the Eye of the tiger #2

Ah, Captain Cubicle,

How your own nom de guerre belies your fighting spirit! Dear Captain, do get
off your ‘Survivor’-watching butt and go play with the big boys in Europe -
not at some imminently forgettable club race Stateside. May I be so bold as
to suggest that your ‘six years of fandom wasted’ rather suggests the ultimate
‘girly’ activity - watching passively from the sidelines as bigger and better
boys roar by you.

For all the girls who actually play with the boys, instead of just whining
about them: "Eat my dust, Captain!"

‘Viral’ infections and antibiotics

Dear Cycling News:

I keep reading about riders with colds, respiratory infections etc and am constantly
amazed that they receive ‘antibiotics’ when most of these infections are viral
so antibiotics are useless. I am not a medical doctor, but a microbiologist
and a public health professional.

A case in point from 20 March 2005 cycling news, "Liberty Seguros' Igor González
de Galdeano has finally found out what has been weakening him these last weeks,
resulting in his abandon of Paris-Nice. The medical analyses carried out a few
days ago have indicated a cytomegalovirus (CMV), a viral infection similar to
mononucleosis. The doctors have prescribed Galdeano antibiotics and a rest for
two weeks to fully recover...."

What do antibiotics have ANYTHING to do with a viral infection? Can a medical
doctor shed some light on this apparent incompetence?

Recent letters pages

Letters 2005

March 18: The Forgotten Hero!,
Way to go Bobby, Bobby J, Lance has lost the ‘Eye of the tiger’, Blood testing
issues and Hamilton, With all Due Respect, All this Lance Talk..., Is Lance
getting soft?

March 11: Blood testing issues
and Hamilton, Cycling on TV, In Defence of UCI president Hein Verbruggen,
Defending the Pro Tour?, Is Lance getting soft?, Lance has lost the "eye of
the tiger"

March 4: In Defence of the
Pro-Tour, Grand Tours back down...for now, Armstrong and Simeoni,Help - what’s
on the TV?, Cycling on TV, Lance Defends His Title!, Hamilton movie role downplayed,
Blood testing issues and Hamilton, I really don't know when it happened

February 25: Lance Defends
His Title!, Build it and tear it down?, Build, dismantle and donate!, Lance's
Hour Record attempt, I really don't know when it happened, Can't get enough!,
Dream on

February 18: Build it and tear
it down?, Remember Marco, One Reason I Love Cycling, The ongoing Hour Record
Saga, Lance’s Hour Record attempt, Can't get enough!

February 11: One Reason I Love
Cycling, Francisco Cuevas, F-One - Come down to earth Lance!, Armstrong and
the Hour, Can't get enough!, Greatest of all time

February 4: F-One - Come down
to earth Lance!, Armstrong and the Hour, Armstrong and Simeoni, Can't get
enough!, Help, Greatest of all time Eddy is King, but who is second best?

January 28: "I am the greatest
of all time", Armstrong and the Hour Record, F-One - Come down to earth Lance!,
Lance Drug Probe, Armstrong and Simeoni, Can’t get enough!, Help, NBC's 2004
RAAM Coverage, Doping, Crash distance from 1km to 3km, Eddy is King, but who
is second best?

October 15 letters - Is the
Pro Tour a good idea?, Cycling is bigger than doping, Doping, Floyd Landis,
Museeuw is too nice to be guilty, Pound must go, Armstrong and Simeoni, Blood
doping, Peers and Planckaert, Doping and nationality, The new blood test,
Tyler Hamilton, World Championships, World Time Trial Champion, Erik Zabel
Interview